Premier Peter Malinauskas told reporters this afternoon that effective from midday, Stevens had lifted the emergency management declaration – the second longest in the state’s history after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malinauskas described the move as a “significant development” in the state’s response to the River Murray flood, and thanked emergency workers for their “Herculean effort” helping affected communities.

“The flow of the river is now at the border down to 50 gigalitres a day – that’s down from over 180 gigalitres a day around Christmas time,” he said.

“While there is still a flooding event underway, it is comparatively very minor to where we were and well within the capability of the SES (State Emergency Service), supported by other agencies, to be able to respond… without the declaration.”

The declaration was imposed under the Emergency Management Act on November 21.

Stevens is required under legislation to formally revoke an emergency management declaration as soon as he forms a view that it is no longer necessary.

Despite the emergency declaration being lifted, some restrictions remain, including bans on towing behind vessels (including water skiing), on-water activities near locks, weirs, barrages and the Murray Mouth, and walking, anchoring a boat on, or remaining on an engaged levee.

Premier Peter Malinauskas speaking to reporters this afternoon. Photo: Belinda Willis/InDaily

There are still exclusion zones in place around power lines in flood plains and speed restrictions within 250 metres of an engaged levee or submerged building.

“People are advised to act with caution and due care,” Malinauskas said.

“The focus of the government now continues to be around recovery and, of course, we have a $190 million package to assist in that effort over the weeks and months ahead.

“Just because the emergency management declaration is over doesn’t mean that the state can forget the challenges that confront river communities and we stand at the ready as a government to respond accordingly.”

State Emergency Service chief officer Chris Beattie said only four key levees were now engaged by the flood waters, including at the Morgan Caravan Park and Mannum.

He said work was now underway to “demobilise a number of the resources” across River Murray communities, with the government also engaging a contractor to help with the clean-up.

“We anticipate that we’ll be able to formally close down the asset management team that has been operating out of Loxton sometime towards the end of next week,” he said.

“We continue to have the directions working group meet regularly.

“We have a field crew that continue to provide ground observations in respect to not only the river levels, but also the river velocities, and we’re monitoring the amount of debris in terms of what’s actually floating through the river.

“There has been a significant drop off in the debris, but we’re still seeing that there’s quite a bit in the main channel, with a lot of that debris actually being captured on the flood plain as the water receded.”

Beattie said authorities would lift the remaining restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so.

He said less than 25 people were still in emergency accommodation.